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Photographic 

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Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WHSTIR.N.Y.  14SB0 

(716)  173-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  ci 
to  the 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
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□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculie 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Letit 


D 
D 
D 


titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


V~pC  Bound  with  other  material/ 
lyU    ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 


0' 


D 


n 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
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modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
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I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


n 

D 
D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

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Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculies 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
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D 


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Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


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Ce  document  est  fllmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dassous. 


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18X 

22X 

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30X 

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16X 


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The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Metropolitan  Toronto  Library 
History  Department 


The  Images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
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gAnArositi  de: 

IVIetropolitan  Toronto  Library 
History  Department 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  M  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  rettetA  de  rexemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


ides 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  film6s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fiimis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premi6re  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  mif:rofiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (mear^kt^  'CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  ie 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  Y  signifie  "FIN". 


re 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcestiaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


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1 

2 

3 

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4 

5 

6 

INDIANA  HISTORICAL   SOCIETY  PUBLICATIONS. 
VOLUME  11.  Number  n. 


t     nj    I'll 


ill  ! 


DOCUMENTS 


RBLATINO  TO  THR 


French  Settlements 


WABASH. 


iiv 


JACOB  PIATT  DUNN. 


INDIANATOUS; 
THE  nOWFN-MKKUII.L  COMPANY. 

ISIM. 


I; 

I! 


^> 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  following  papers  relate  to  Vincennes  and  the  Ww- 
bash  country,  and  more  or  less  to  the  entire  Ohio  valley. 
They  almost  cover  the  period  of  English  possession  of  this 
part  of  the  United  States,  the  first  being  the  last  orders  of 
the  last  French  commandant  of  Post  Vincennes,  and  the 
last  being  a  letter  of  the  last  English  commandant.  With 
the  exception  of  the  Gage  correspondence  and  papers  they 
are  arranged  in  order  of  date.  The  Gage  papers,  beginning 
witL  the  letter  of  Ste.  Marie,  or  Jean  Baptiste  Racine, 
acting  commandant  of  Post  Vincennes,  to  General  Haldi- 
mand,  and  closing  with  the  letter  of  General  Haldimand 
to  General  Gage,  in  regard  to  the  matter,  show  the  proof 
of  legal  title  and  right  of  settlement  in  the  French  people 
of  Vincennes  which  was  demanded  by  the  famous  letter 
of  General  Gage  in  1773.  This  letter  will  be  found  in 
Dillon's  History  of  Indiana  at  pages  86-88. 

I  obtained  copies  of  these  various  documents  when  writ- 
ing my  "Indiana"  for  the  American  Commonwealth  series. 
The  farewell  proclamation  of  St.  Ange  was  furnished  to 
me  by  Hon.  C.  C.  Lasselle,  whose  ancestors  were  among 
the  ancient  residents  of  the  Wabash  country.  The  re- 
mainder were  obtained  from  the  Canadian  archives.  I 
have  reproduced  the  originals  as  nearly  as  possible  in 
spelling  and  punctuation.  In  translating  I  have  endeav- 
ored to  give  the  ideas  that  the  writers,  in  my  opinion,  en- 
deavored to  convey.  J.  P.  Dunn. 

Indianapolis^  'January  22^  iSg^, 


my 


(40s) 


Frei 


Fj 

En 
au  pa\ 
pollise 
poste 
itiiine 
pour 
iivont 
foncti 
Sr.  le 
etre  d 
Kmpe 

luihiti 

des  s 

Mt 

trop 

Htant 

pass( 

ail  d 

la  be 

jntei 

les  ' 

feric 

duit 

d( 


i;'; 


French  Settlements  on  the  Wabash. 


FAREWELL  PROCLAMATION  OF  LOUIS 
ST.  ANGE. 

En  vertue  de  I'ordre  M'  de  Neyon  Major  Commandant 
au  payes  des  jllinois  de  nommer  une  personne  veller  a  la 
pollisse  et  mantenir  le  bon  order  entre  les  habittans  de  ce 
poste  j  ussi  que  des  vollontaire  et  les  sauvage — Nous  Cap- 
itaine  reforme  etante  sur  le  point  de  partir  pour  les  jllinois 
pour  nous  randre  au  ordre  de  monsieur  de  Neyon  nous 
avont  nomme  monsieur  deroite  de  richarville,  fesint  les 
fonctions  de  Capitaine  de  millisse  conjointement  avec  le 
Sr.  le  Caindre  Soldat  des  troupe — leur  premier  soint  doit 
etre  de  maintenir  la  bonne  jntelligensse  entrc  les  Sauvage 
I'Jmpechaire  le  desordre  au  terns  quil  dependerad  eux  lors 
qui  leur  sera  porte  des  plaintes  contre  quelqun  jl  le  vont 
ailantion  de  faire  un  assanble  des  plus  notables  entre  les 
habittans  du  lieu  oux  la  chose  ce  dasidera  a  la  pluralite 
des  suffrage. 

Messieur  de  roite  de  richarville  et  de  Caindre  ne  peuve 
trop  veller  a  ce  que  les  habittans  entretienne  leur  cloutures 
etante  de  1'  interait  du  publique  a  ce  que  les  animaux  ne 
passe  de  ter  au  g*.  ains.  jl  soposeron  autant  quil  pouvont 
au  desordre  qui  n  arive  que  trops  souvant  ocasionne  par 
la  boissons,  lors  quil  viendera  quelque  nouvell  quel  soit 
jnterressante  a  a  bien  du  service  jl  auront  attention  de  nous 
les  faire  assavoir  En  tin  pour  tons  les  cas  que  nous  ne 
ferions  prevoire  nous  nous  enraportant  a  leur  bonne  con- 
duitte  et  a  leur  application  pour  le  bien  p  iblique. 

donn6  au  poste  Vincene  le  i8me  May  1764. 

St.  Ange. 
(407) 


■    y 


\i  h 


'4 


i    A 


4o8 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


rr! 


(Translation.) 

By  virtue  of  the  order  of  M.  de  Neyon,  Major  Com- 
mandant of  the  Illinois  country,  to  name  a  person  to  attend 
to  the  police,  and  to  maintain  good  order  among  the  citi- 
zens of  this  post,  as  also  of  the  voyageurs  and  the  Indians 
— I,  invalided  Captain,  being  about  to  depart  to  the  Illi- 
nois country  according  to  the  order  of  Monsieur  de  Neyon 
have  named  Monsieur  Deroite  de  Richardville,  perform- 
ing the  functions  of  captain  of  militia,  jointly  with  Sr.  le 
Caindre,  soldier  of  the  troops.  Their  first  care  sliould  be 
to  maintain  good  feeling  among  the  Indians  to  prevent 
disorder  so  long  as  they  are  in  charge.  Whenever  com- 
plaint shall  be  made  to  them  against  any  one  they  will 
proceed  to  call  an  assembly  of  the  more  notable  of  the 
citizens  of  the  place,  where  the  matter  shall  be  decided  by 
a  plurality  of  votes. 

Messieurs  Deroite  de  Richardville  and  de  Caindre  can 
not  watch  too  carefully  that  the  citizens  keep  up  their 
fences,  it  being  to  the  public  interest  that  the  cattle  siiould 
not  pass  from  the  commons  to  tlie  grain  fields.  Tiiey  will 
check  as  far  as  they  are  able  the  disorders  which  occur  too 
frequently,  occasioned  by  drinking.  Whenever  any  news 
shall  come  to  them  which  may  be  of  importance  to  the 
good  of  the  service  they  will  take  care  to  apprise  me 
of  it.  In  conclusion,  in  all  cases  which  I  have  not  been 
able  to  foresee,  I  depend  on  their  good  management  and 
their  devotion  to  the  public  welfare. 

Given  at  Post  Vincennes  the  i8th  of  May,  1764. 

St.  Angk. 


REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  ERASER. 

Sir — A  detail  of  the  different  occurrences  of  my  late 
journe}'^  through  the  Indian  Nations,  cou'd  neither  be  very 
entertaining,  nor  interesting  to  any  others,  but  myself.    At 


3(1 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


409 


Ki 


your  request  Sir,  I  will  endeavour  to  give  you  a  discrip- 
tion  of  the  countries  through  which  I  passed  which  is  a 
thing  however  I  should  not  attempt  were  I  not  confident 
that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  excuse  any  inaccuracies 
vou  may  find  in  it  w hither  occasion  by  hurry  or  proceed- 
ing from  my  incapacity. 

I  am  very  sensible  that  my  pen  can  not  do  justice  to  the 
beauties  and  cc^^veniences  that  nature  has  bestowed  on 
the  large  tract  of  country  lying  hitherto  uninhabited  be- 
tween Fort  Pitt  &  the  Illinois  on  both  sides  of  the  Ohio. 

After  traversing  ninety  miles  of  a  beautiful  country 
lying  between  New  York  &  Philadelphia,  and  traveling 
from  that  place  to  Fort  Pitt,  istant  320  miles  the  greatest 
p;irf  peopled  by  very  wealthy  .nV  Sitants  I  thought  Icou'd 
st'e  no  other  that  cou'd  exc(  I  was  soon  convinced 

liowever  of  the  contrary  oi.  >  proceeding  down  the 
Ohio  on  my  way  to  the  Illinois.  1  iuit  river  (very  properly 
termed  La  Belle  Riviere  by  the  French  which  is  the  lit- 
teral  translation  of  the  Iroquois  name)  is  formed  by  the 
confluence  of  the  AUegeny  &  Moningahila  Rivers,  at  Fort 
Pitt  where  they  lose  their  names  as  the  Ohio  does  by  fall- 
ing into  the  Missisipe  about  forty  leagues  below  Fort  Char- 
ters &  almost  due  West  from  Philadelphia  after  running 
about  two  thousand  miles  in  a  serpentine  course  through  a 
country  abounding  with  an  incredible  quantity  of  game  & 
constantly  presenting  different  agreeable  -prospects  to  the 
Travelers  view. 

Tho'  this  River  is  considerable  at  Fort  Pitt  for  its  size 
during  the  greatest  part  of  the  year,  yet  it  is  very  much 
increas'd  both  in  Depth  and  Width  by  the  many  Rivers 
that  Discharge  themselves  into  it.  The  most  considerable 
of  these  are  the  Muskingum,  whereon  the  Delaware  live. 
The  Canaway  which  comes  from  the  back  Frontiers  of 
Virginia,  the  Scioto  on  whose  Banks  the  Shawanise  dwell, 
La  Riviere  de  Rochers,  which  begins  at  a  little  distance 


IV'i 


'    hC- 


m 


\!i 


\ 


1   •: 


4IO 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


from  the  Miames,  the  Ouubache  which  comes  from  near 
the  same  place  &  the  Cumberland  &  Cherokee  Rivers 
which  fall  into  it  considerably  lower.  These  lesser  rivers 
are  navigable  for  Batteaus  during  the  greatest  part  of  the 
year.     From  the  middle  of  October  to  June,  8  months. 

There  are  no  Indian  Nations  living  contiguous  to  the 
Banks  of  the  Ohio,  but  those  two  I  have  just  mentioned 
The  Delaw  &  Shaw  &  the  Mingos  or  Senecas  who  live  a 
little  above  Fort  Pitt — excepting  those  of  Ouabache  on 
which  there  are  five  nations,  Ouiachlonons,  Quicapous, 
Mascoutains,  Piankishavv  &  Virmillion,  settled  besides  a 
French  Village  called  St.  Vincent  in  which  there  are  about 
sixty  farmers  who  raise  a  considerable  quantity  of  Wheat 
and  Tobacco,  and  have  a  good  stock  of  cattle. 

Between  this  River  and  the  Illinois  are  several  very  ex- 
tensive plains  on  which  there  are  always  vast  numbers  of 
Buftaloe  &  Deer  and  every  other  species  of  game  common 
in  that  country. 

The  soil  in  the  Illinois  settlements  is  not  so  good  as  at 
any  of  the  places  I  have  already  named  owing  perhaps  to 
the  quantity  of  sand  mixed  with  it  by  the  Missisipe,  the 
Inhabitants,  suppose  that  the  River  overflowed  formerly, 
all  the  land  at  present  cultivated  in  that  Colony  &  the  sit- 
uation with  some  other  vestiges  seem  to  give  great  proba- 
bility to  their  conjecture. 

The  land  hov\ever  is  capable  to  produce  anything  which 
one  cou'd  expect  in  so  northerly  a  climate.  They  raise  a 
great  deal  of  wheat  &  Indian  corn,  they  have  also  moat 
kinds  of  European  fruits  and  vegetables,  tolerably  good 
considering  the  l^*Me  pains  they  give  themselves  in  culti- 
vating them.  They  have  attempted  to  rear  the  European 
vines,  which  they  say  they  cou'd  not  bring  to  any  perfec- 
tion, but  I  impute  their  having  given  it  up  of  late  more  to 
the  want  of  skill  in  those  who  planted  them,  or  the  Mon- 
arch's Injunctions  prohibiting  the  raising  any  thing  which 


ii 


IH 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


4TI 


might  interfere  with  the  staple  commodities  of  the  North- 
ern Country.  They  make  however  a  very  bad  Wine,  from 
the  natural  vine  of  the  country  which  grows  spontaneous 
in  every  part  of  that  Colony,  this  Wine  tho'  seemingly  very 
unhealthy  is  sold  at  a  most  exorbitant  price,  when  they 
have  none  else  to  drink. 

The  Illinois  Indians  are  about  six  hundred  &  fifty  able 
to  bear  arms.  Nothing  can  equal  their  passion  for  drunk- 
eness,  but  that  of  the  French  Inhabitants,  who  are  for  the 
greatest  part  drunk  everyday  while  they  can  get  Drink  to 
buy  in  the  Colony.  They  import  more  of  this  article  from 
New  Orleans  than  they  do  of  any  other,  and  they  never 
fail  to  meet  a  speedy  &  good  market  for  it.  They  have 
a  good  many  Negroes,  who  are  obliged  to  labour  very  hard 
to  support  their  masters,  in  their  extravagant  Debaucheries. 
Any  one  that  has  had  any  dealings  with  them,  must  plainly 
see,  they  are  for  the  most  part  transported  convicts,  or 
people  who  have  fled  for  some  crimes.  Those  who  have 
not  done  it  themselves  are  the  offspring  of  such  as  those  I 
just  mentioned  inheriting  tlieir  Forefatliers  vices.  They 
are  cruel  and  treacherous  to  each  other  &  consequently 
so  to  strangers.  Tiiey  are  dishonest  in  every  kind  of  Busi- 
ness &  lay  themselves  out  to  overreach  strangers,  which 
they  often  do  by  a  low  cunnrng  peculiar  to  themselves,  and 
their  artful  flatteries  with  extravagant  entertainments  (in 
which  they  affect  the  greatest  hospitality)  generally  favour 
their  schemes. 

There  is  a  rich  Lead  Mine  in  that  Colony  from  which 
they  get  all  the  lead,  that  is  needed  in  the  country,  and  a 
River,  the  water  of  which  (tho'  fresh  to  the  taste)  they 
make  a  sufficiency  of  salt  for  the  consumption  of  the  In- 
habitants. But  these  latter  conveniences  are  unluckily  on 
the  Western  or  Spanish  side  of  the  River. 

The  trade  of  this  Country  is  extremely  considerable,  till 
of  late  years  it  was  wholy   monopolized  by  tlie  leading 


i 


(H 


412 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


'H 


men  in  New  Orleans,  but  since  the  last  peace,  they  have 
allowed  any  one  that  wou'd  pay  the  fees  of  a  passport  to 
(TO  to  our  side  of  the  River  and  amongst  our  Indians.  This 
-  as  a  very  political  scheme  in  them,  as  every  trader  be- 
came a  Partizan  for  the  French  in  the  nations  we  traded 
:o,  or  in  other  words,  the  introduced  those  traders,  who 
are  in  general  most  unconciencious  Rascals  and  made  it 
their  interest  to  debauch  from  us  such  Indians  as  they 
found  well  disposed  touai.  '  us — and  to  foment  &  in- 
crease the  animosity  of  such  as  the  found  otherwise ;  to 
this  we  shou'd  alone  impute  our  late  war  with  the  Indians, 
whom  they  unwarrantably  supplied  with  ammunition  and 
every  other  thing  necessary  for  carrying  it  on.  The  N.  O. 
Company  for  the  Fur  trade  have  confmed  their  commercL' 
to  the  Missouris  River  since,  which  falls  in  about  five 
leagues  above  our  most  northern  settlement  in  the  Illinois, 
private  traders  are  permitted  to  go  every  where  else,  and 
many  of  tluMn  come  to  our  side  to  trade,  particularly  into 
the  Illinois  River  from  whence  they  get  a  great  share  of 
the  trade  of  that  Colony. 

I  discovered  also  a  few  days  before  I  left  the  Illinois 
that  many  traders  who  are  permitted  by  us  to  come  up 
from  Canada  with  small  quantities  of  goods,  on  their  ar- 
rival in  the  Indian  Nations  commissions  great  quantities 
of  goods  from  the  French  Merchants  at  the  Illinois  wiili 
which  they  purchase  skins  in  the  neighbourhood  of  our 
Posts  &  transport  them  afterwards  to  the  Illinois — hut 
tliis  I  hope  will  be  put  a  stop  to  when  we  have  tioojis 
enough  in  that  Colony  to  establish  proper  posts  or  enable 
the  commander  to  send  Detachments  todetect  any  we  may 
fmd  committing  such  Frauds. 

When  our  traders  arrive  from  the  Post  they  can  under- 
sell those  of  the  French  at  least  25  per  cent,  for  which 
reason  you  may  depend  Sir  that  they  will  use  all  tiieir 
endeavours  to  create  us  as  many  enemies  as  possible  as 


ij^.Jfc>>A 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


413 


they  will  have  the  whole  trade  of  every  Nation  they  can 
engage  in  a  war  against  us.  They  have  an  astonishing 
sway  over  the  Indians,  and  they  will  not  fail  to  put  it  to 
the  proof,  to  procure  themselves  Profit.  In  sliort  Sir  it  is 
my  humble  opinion  that  our  Countrymen  at  the  Illinois 
will  never  have  a  real  peace  while  they  are  rivals  with  the 
French  in  Trade. 

The  French  Commandments  have  always  been  sharers 
in  the  Profits  of  the  New  Orleans  Company  and  do  every- 
thing in  their  power  to  promote  their  common  Interest. 
They  will  make  eternal  professions  of  Friendship  and 
gocd  Ofiices  with  every  Englishman  with  whom  they  have 
tiie  least  intercourse,  but  their  double  manner  of  acting 
shou'd  put  us  on  guard  to  trust  them  as  little  as  possible 
&  to  suspect  them  of  doing  us  every  harm  possible  in  pri- 
vate. I  have  the  honor  to  assure  you  of  this  Sir,  from  my 
own  experience  not  from  conjectiu"e,  and  such  as  have  had 
any  business  with  them  regarding  his  Majesty's  Servicf 
mnst  have  met  the  same — if  any  shou'd  pretend  to  say  the 
contrary  it  must  proceed  from  their  having  mistaken  tlu'ir 
flattering  protestations  for  sincirity  so  far  as  to  overlook 
tlieir  cunning  designs.  I  have  on  many  occasions  been 
flattered  by  them  &  had  compliments  paid  me  that  I 
had  no  tittle  to  a  consciousness  of  the  smallness  of  my  own 
merit  convinced  me  that  they  were  covers  for  some  hidden 
designs  &  the  Commander  in  Chiefs  gave  me  suOicient 
precautions  on  this  head,  to  keep  me  always  on  my  guard 
&  to  supply  my  want  of  Penetration. 

You  will  think  Sir  from  my  account  of  the  French  in 
that  new  Colony  that  his  Majesty  has  not  made  very  val- 
uable acquisition  if  we  consider  only  the  luimber  of  new 
Subjects  he  has  got  in  that  Colony,  and  I  assure  you  Sir 
that  we  would  be  as  well  quit  of  them,  if  the  Troops  in 
that  country  unfortunately  depend  on  them  in  a  great 
measure  for  their  jircn-isions — You  have  heard  Sir  how  the 


4: 


f^  -■ 


4H 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


hi 


■i 

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A 

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1 

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■;  .-•■ 

1 

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m[1)    1 

' 

nM'      J 

1. 

Ijnfi 

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Ml 

1 

jjreatest  part  of  those  who  inliabited  our  .side  of  the  River 
abandon  it  on  our  getting  possession  of  the  Colony — 
Tlioir  desertion  was  undoubtedly  occasion'd  b}'  the  re- 
jtorts  spread  to  paint  the  English  government  in  as  bad  a 
light  as  invention  cou'd  frame  it,  but  it  is  to  be  hojud, 
they  will  see  how  they  have  been  imposed  on  and  thai  so 
many  will  come  back  as  will  be  able  to  supply  our  Troops 
plentifully. 

The  French  have  had  Besides  Fort  Charters  a  small 
Fort  at  Cascaskias  and  another  at  Coake,  there  was  a 
third  called  Assomption  on  the  Bank  of  the  Ohio  opposite 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Cherakee  River,  besides  two  Forts  on 
Ouabach  the  one  called  the  great  Ouiachtonon  was  tie- 
pendant  on  Canada  &  the  other  at  little  Ouiachtonon  or 
S''  Vincent — dependant  on  Orleans  all  those  excepting,' 
fort  Charters  are  intirely  in  ruins,  some  of  them  that  you 
can  scarce  see  any  appearance  of  they  did  not  seem  to 
me  of  any  great  consequence  were  they  even  on  a  bi'llrr 
footing  as  they  were  situated.  The  Fort  of  the  Natcluv:  is 
little  better,  tlie  Barracks  and  everything  in  them  soeiu  to 
have  been  destroyed  through  wantonness.  I  am  much  sur- 
prised that  we  have  not  inquired  of  the  French  dieir  Rea- 
sons for  abandoning  them  so  abruptly,  without  giving  us 
Regular  possession  of  them.  I  took  upon  myself  to  ask 
their  reasons  for  so  doing  but  I  could  never  obl;iin  any 
answer,  perhaps  owing  to  the  dilliculty  of  giving  a  proper 
one,  or  perhaps  they  did  not  look  upon  me  as  a  person  of 
sufTicient  consequence  to  in(]uire  into  those  matters. 

I  forgot  to  mention  Sir  the  number  of  Inhabitants  at  tlic 
Illinois  and  it  is  a  thing  which  is  very  dillicult  to  assertain 
as  they  are  going  &.  coming  constantly  to  it  from  the  In- 
dian Nations,  as  othe"s  are  from  New  Orleans  to  the 
Illinois,  but  there  are  in  general  about  seven  hundred 
white  men  able  to  bear  arms. 

It  remains  only  now  to  mention  something  of  the   In- 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


415 


dians  in  general.    What  can  be  said  of  one,  may  be  apply'd 
to  all,  there  is  so  great  a  similitude  between  them. 

The  Indians  are  cruel,  treacherous,  and  cowardly  un- 
less they  can  surprise  their  enemy  without  probability  of 
sullering  any  loss  themselves,  but  in  that  case  they  attack 
often  ten  times  their  own  number.  They  are  in  general 
great  Drunkards.  I  must  except  the  Ozages  nor  are  the 
Akansa  or  Chicasas  so  passionately  fond  of  drink  as  other 
Nations  are.  These  two  are  extremely  like  each  other  and 
are  more  remarkable  for  their  attachment  to  the  white 
people  than  any  other. 

As  the  Chicasases  have  ever  been  faithful  to  us  they 
shou'd  be  distinguished  by  our  favours  to  them  before  any 
other  Nation,  and  showing  a  partiality  for  them  before  other 
Indians  might  inspire  others  with  a  resolution  of  imitating 
tlu'ir  fidelity  Drink  is  the  occasion  of  all  our  troubles 
amongst  them  and  it  were  much  to  be  wished  that  the  as- 
semblies or  councils  of  the  neighbouring  Provinces  would 
restrict  the  sending  of  it,  as  has  been  done  to  the  North- 
ward. I  am  persuaded  Sir,  when  you  well  learn  the  li- 
centious methods  of  carrying  on  the  trade  amongst  them, 
that  you  will  use  your  endeavours  to  prevent  the  fatal  con- 
sequences we  :ihou'd  dread  from  it.  I  know  no  body  so 
proper  to  inform  you  Sir  minutely  regarding  it  as  Mr.  John 
Mcintosh  commissary  of  the  Chickasaws  aou  need  not  ex- 
pect to  come  at  the  truth  from  any  Yrac/rr,  but  } ou  may 
sal'ely  trust  to  his  information,  as  I  know  him  to  be  a  man 
of  such  honesty  that  nothing  could  make  him  conceal  any- 
thing which  regards  his  Majestys  Service  or  which  you 
would  be  desirous  to  know. 

I  know  no  place  (as  I  had  the  honour  formerly  to  tell 
you  Sir)  where  we  shou'd  establish  a  l<\)rt  at  sooner  than 
opposite  to  the  mouth  of  the  Missouris  River  which  would 
give  us  the  command  of  that  River,  shou'd  we  (ind  it  here- 
after beneticial  &  wou'd  also  put  a  stop  to  French  trading 


H'M 


VI 


4i6 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


',) 


up  the  River,  a  Post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ouabache  wou'd 
also  be  necessary  to  command  the  navigation  of  that  river 
and  the  Ohio,  &  as  a  store  to  secure  provisions  or  goods 
in  coming  from  Fort  Pitt,  shou'd  it  be  thought  hereafter 
more  expedient  to  go  from  thence  by  hmd  to  Fort  Cliarters. 

I  think  also  that  the  mouth  of  the  Yasou  is  a  more  proper 
place  for  a  Post  or  Settlement  than  any  other  place  on  the 
Missipi,  as  it  is  the  common  route  of  the  Creeks  and 
Chactavvs  going  to  New  Orleans. 

I  beg  leave  to  Inform  you  Sir  that  I  think  if  we  could 
prevail  on  a  few  Indians  to  live  at  the  Iberville  with  the 
detachment  we  get  there,  might  be  very  servicible  in  kill- 
ing game  for  the  Troops,  and  their  wives  &  children  wou'd 
always  be  good  pledges  for  their  Peaceable  Behaviour. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  with  true  respect  Sir  your  most 
humble  Servant  Al"  Fhaser. 

Pensacola  4th  May  1766. 

P.  S.  The  Commandants  of  the  French  Troops  in  the 
Illinois  were  always  impowered  to  prohibit  the  exportation 
of  any  provisions  from  the  Illinois  till  the  Kings  Ma^ja- 
zines  shou'd  be  first  supplyd.  This  however  the  com''" 
often  permitted  in  consequence  of  pecuniary  considerations 
from  those  who  exported  them  I  think  Sir  that  yowv  In- 
structions on  this  head  to  your  Commanding  oliicer  there 
would  be  necessary.  The  Inhabitants  migiit  otiierwise  ex- 
port their  grain  and  sell  it  at  a  lower  price  to  the  French 
that  we  might  offer  them  for  it.  I  know  their  antipatiiy  to 
our  Nation  would  make  them  embrace  with  great  cheerful- 
ness any  sullerings  or  loss  should  they  in  any  manner  tend 
to  distress  us. 

In  consequence  of  Mons'  Auburys  intercession  I  imdor- 
stand  by  a  letter  from  General  Gage  to  him,  that  there  are 
no  reprisals  to  be  made  on  the  Indian  Alibamons  who  lately, 
so  grossly  insulted  us  at  the  Iberville — as  the  Tonicaws 
have  not  been  punished  either  for  having  beat  back  the 


r 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


417 


22d  Regiment,  they  may  think  that  they  may  always  ex- 
pect to  commit  the  same  Hostilitie  with  impunity.  I  think 
Sir  it  would  not  be  improper  to  signify  to  them  that  must 
expect  to  be  all  cut  ofFshou'd  they  for  the  future  give  rea- 
son to  suspect  their  good  intentions — nor  do  I  thinlc  it 
would  be  wrong  to  punish  them  accordingly.  The  Chica- 
saws  are  the  Proper  Instruments  for  this  duty. 

Al^  Fraser. 


u  if  ■■ 


THOMAS  HUTCHINS  TO  GEN.  HALDIMAND. 

Fort  Ciiartres  15th  Nov'  1768. 
v.— 15  of  October. 

Sir — Please  to  allow  me  to  observe  that  your  Exalted 
Station  like  many  other  high  places  in  life,  is  not  I  pre- 
sume free  from  some  degree  of  care  and  trouble,  at  least 
so  much  as  to  deprive  me  of  the  smallest  hopes  of  the 
Honour  of  you-  correspondence,  however  abstracted  from 
the  great  obligation  a  letter  from  you  would  lay  me  under. 
I  shall  beg  leave  to  intrude  so  much  upon  your  time  as 
may  be  necessary  for  the  perusal  of  the  enclosed  it  is  a 
short  description  of  the  Country  near  (and  River  of)  the 
Ohio  from  Fort  Pitt  to  its  junction  with  the  Mississippe. 
You  have  it  in  the  form  of  a  journ  d  wrote  in  haste.  I 
Hatter  myself  it  may  notwithstanding  serve  to  assist  in 
passing  a  few  of  your  leisure  minutes. 

I  would  trouble  you  with  the  Occurrences  of  this  place, 
but  am  apprehensive  that  a  detail  of  them  would  swell  this 
letter  to  a  tedious  length,  you  will  bt^  pleased  tlierefore  to 
excuse  the  liberty  I  have  taken  in  referring  you  to  M' 
Hutchinson  to  whom  1  have  wrote  a  particulars  of  them. 

The  Fever  and  Augue  since  our  arrival  has  raged  with 
such  uncommon  violence  as  to  put  it  out  of  our  power  to 
do  scarce  anyti  ing  more  than  lo  bury  some  of  our  Ollicers 
and  Men  who  were  carried  oil' by  those  disorders. 


^ 


418 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


We  expect  next  Spring  if  the  Health  of  the  Garrison 
permit  to  take  possession  of  Post  St  Vincent  on  the  Oua- 
bache,  if  I  should  be  furnislied  with  any  Occurrences  worth 
your  notice  during  my  stay  there,  I  shall  do  myself  the 
pleasure  to  acquaint  3'^ou  with  them. 

Colonel  Wilkins  who  is  quite  recovered  from  his  illness 
has  desired  me  to  present  you  with  his  most  respectful 
compliments. 

It  will  always  afford  me  pleasure  to  be  favoured  with 
your  commands. 

I  am  with  the  Greatest  Respect  Sir,  your  most  obedient 
Humble  Servant  Tuo  r  Hutchins 

N.  B.  I  must  pray  you  will  not  \ 
permit  any  Person  to  take  a  copy  > 
of  the  enclosed.  ; 

To  Brigadier  General  Haldimand. 


JOURNAL  FROM  FORT   PITT   TO  THE  MOUTH 

OF  THE  OHIO. 

In  thk  year  1768. 

The  country  for  71  miles  below  the  Fort  to  an  Indian 
Vilhige  situate  on  the  north  bank  is  broken  with  very  high 
ridges,  the  valleys  narrow  and  the  course  of  tiie  River 
plunged  from  many  higli  grounds  which  compose  its  banUs. 

90  miles  lower  down  is  tlie  Muskingum  on  the  same 
side,  in  latitude  39°  19'.  Tiie  Muskingum  is  a  large  River 
250  yards  wide  at  its  conlluence  with  the  Oliio,  it  is  said 
to  be  navigable  150  miles  upwards  with  Battoea,  and  runs 
tiirough  a  pleasant  country  as  that  near  its  junction  ap- 
peared to  be — on  this  River  and  its  brandies  most  of  the 
Delaware  Indians  reside. 

366  miles  from  Fort  Pitt  in  Latitude  38°  22'  is  the  Sioto 
Rivt-r  on  tlie  North  Side.  The  River  Ohio  50  miles  above 
Muskingum  to  Sioto  is  most  beautiful  a  number  of  Islands 
are  to  be  seen  of  different  sizes,  but  all  covered  with  the 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


419 


Tallest  of  Timber.  The  long  reaches  among  which  is  one 
of  16  miles,  and  a  ^  inclosed  with  the  finest  Trees  of  different 
kinds,  of  various  verdures  and  leaves  of  the  largest  soils, 
afford  a  noble  and  enchanting  prospect.  The  stillness  of 
the  current  and  a  calm  sunshine  put  a  Trace  on  the  Water, 
from  which  was  reflected  the  most  beautiful  objects  of 
simple  nature,  that  1  ever  beheld.  This  glorious  Vista  was 
terminated  by  two  Sugar  Loaf  Hills,  of  easy  asscent,  from 
which  can  be  discovered  all  this  magnificent  variety.  The 
Rivers  Hockhocking  &  Canawha  fall  into  the  Ohio  in  this 
space,  besides  others  of  a  smaller  size,  up  the  big  Can- 
awha the  Northern  Indians  penetrate  into  the  Chorakee 
Nations,  and  is  a  large  ffne  stream  by  report  navigable  100 
miles  towards  the  Southward. 

The  Country  is  everywhere  pleasant,  in  the  bends  of  the 
River  course  are  large  levell  spotts  of  the  Richest  Land, 
it  is  by  the  account  of  Traders  remarkably  Healthy. 

On  the  Siolo  the  principal  part  of  the  Shawanoe  Na- 
tion have  their  Villages  560  miles  below  Fort  Pitt,  5 
miles  south  of  the  River  is  the  Licks  in  which  Elephants 
bones  are  found,  tlie  principal  Lick  is  of  a  circular  form, 
composed  of  a  species  of  C^^uick  Sand  and  Black  Mud 
which  is  of  a  very  Miry  Quality.  From  whence  these 
animals  came,  and  the  cause  of  their  Extinction  may  be  a 
subject  for  an  able  Penn  to  discuss.  It  however  seems 
not  improbable,  but  that  the  whole  which  were  in  this 
Country  (by  wiiat  means  soever  they  were  brought)  kept 
constantly  in  one  Herd  and  tliat  arriving  at  the  Licks  in  a 
wet  season,  and  entering  to  satisfy  their  natural  thirst  for 
tlie  salt  water  wliich  arrises  from  tiiem,  some  of  them 
might  by  their  great  weight  have  sunk  so  deep  as  not  to 
he  able  to  rise  out  &.  the  others  out  of  sympathy,  or  some 
other  cause,  not  being  willing  to  leave  their  companions 
in  distress,  have  siiared  the  same  fate.  The  pasturage 
near  tlie  Licks  seems  to  be  one  of  the  finest  kind,  mixed 
with  grass  and  Herbage,  and  well  watered. 


:i  ii; 


iil'  ' 


m 


h 


420 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


' 


%    ' 


The  Ohio  continues  to  be  narrow  the  whole  Distance 
froiii  Fort  Pitt  to  within  lOO  miles  of  the  Falls.  Its  breadth 
seldom  exceeds  5ooyards  and  is  confined  by  risirg  grounds, 
which  causes  many  windings,  altho  the  reaches  i;re  some- 
times from  2  to  4  miles  long.  The  River  loo  miles  above 
the  Falls  widens  to  700  yards  in  many  places,  a  number  of 
Islands  appear.  The  grounds  diminish  generally  into 
Height,  and  the  country  is  not  so  much  broken — the 
height  of  the  Banks  permits  their  being  every  where  in- 
habited, nor  do  they  seem  subjected  to  crumble  much 
away.  The  Little  and  Big  Mineamies  Rivers  fall  into 
below  the  Sioto  on  the  North  side,  and  the  Licking  Creek 
and  Kentuckee  on  the  South.  There  are  many  good  En- 
campments on  the  Islands. 

The  Falls  is  682  miles  below  Fort  Pitt  in  Latitude  38° 8'. 
This  place  ought  rather  to  be  called  a  Rapid,  as  the 
streams  has  no  sudden  pitch,  but  only  Runs  with  incon- 
ceivable rapidity  over  the  Ledge  of  llatt  Limestone  Rock, 
which  keeps  up  the  waters  of  the  higher  Ohio,  and  'o  be 
the  cause  of  that  beautiful  stillness  of  the  Rivers  course 
above. 

317  miles  below  the  Falls  is  the  Wabash  in  Latitude  37° 
41'.  F'rom  the  Falls  to  about  half  this  distance  the  coun- 
try is  very  Hilly,  the  course  of  the  River  very  winding 
and  narrow  and  tiie  Hills  are  mostly  strong  and  steep. 

837  miles  below  Fort  Pitt  the  Ridgy  ground  disappears, 
the  country  grows  flat  and  tlie  River  whose  Bed  widens  is 
often  divided  by  Islands.  The  River  Wabash  at  its  con- 
fluence is  300  yds.  wide  and  Issues  in  with  a  considerable 
quantity  of  water  of  a  muddy  kind,  it  is  navigable  be- 
tween 3  &  400  miles  upwards.  Post  St  Vincent  a  French 
Village  is  situate  60  leagues  iip  it  and  nearly  the  same  dis- 
tance further  up  stands  the  Villaji-j  f)f  Ouialanon.  Tiie 
Following  Indian  Nations  reside  on  this  River,  Vi/t.  Oui- 
atanons  Kickapoos  Pyankashaws,  r.nd  Musquetons. 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


421 


The  c  ■  untrj'-  between  the  course  of  this  River  and  that 
of  the  Mississipi  is  general  Fiatt,  open  and  of  a  rich 
luxuriant  soil,  and  that  on  the  Banks  of  the  Ohio  is  level, 
and  in  many  places  overflowed  here  abouts. 

120  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Wabash  and  11  below 
that  of  the  Cherokee  River  is  the  remains  of  the  Fort 
Massiac,  formerly  a  French  Post. 

The  country  25  miles  from  the  Wabash  begins  again  to 
be  mountainous  being  the  N.  W.  end  of  the  Apalachian 
iMountains  which  entirely  terminate  a  small  distance  from 
the  River  Northernly. 

45  miles  below  Massiac  and  1164  from  Fort  Pitt  is  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio  in  Latitude  36°  43'.  The  gentle  Ohio 
is  pushed  back  by  the  impetuous  stream  of  the  Mississipi 
whose  muddy  white  water  is  to  be  seen  200  yards  up  the 
Former.  The  ground  for  some  miles  within  the  Fork  is  an 
aggregation  of  mud  and  sand  interspersed  with  marsh  and 
some  ponds  of  water,  and  is  in  high  times  of  the  Missis- 
sipi over  flowed  which  is  the  case  with  the  other  sides  of 
both  rivers.  Tho.  Hutchins. 


'1    , 


STE.  MARIE'S   LETTER  TO   GENERAL   HALDI- 

MAND. 

Monsieur— je  suis  trop  remplie  de  respect  pour  tout  ce 
qui  porte  I'emnrinte  de  I'otorite  pour  avoir  manque  a  faire 
reponse  a  celle  que  votre  Excelence  marque  m'avoir  ecrite 
apres  le  depart  de  Monsieur  le  general  Gage.  Voicy  la 
seulle  que  Mons'  Maisonville  m  a  remize ;  a  laquelle  je 
repond  avec  tout  le  respect  possible. 

Pour  faire  une  plus  juste  reponse  a  celle  que  Monsieur 
le  general  Gage  nous  honora  et  a  la  proclamation  qu  'il 
nous  envoya  en  date  du  8me  Avril  1773,  je  ne  pui  me  dis- 
penser de  faire  le  voyage  des  Illinois  avec  Mr.  Perthuit  qui 
fui  depute  pour  cette  afl^tire  parcequne  partie  des  titres  de 


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422 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


cette  endroit  etoient  dans  les  archives  de  ce  poste  une 
autre  part.ie  emporte  par  un  M.  Clouvier  cy  deven  notaire 
et  que  la  niauvaize  conduitte  obliga  de  partir  furtivement 
d'autres  mange  des  rats  &c. 

En  fait  du  ressencement  que  vostre  Excelence  exige  de 
nous,  il  n'est  pas  surprenen  qu'il  ne  luy  fui  pas  encore 
parvenue  puis  qu'il  ne  put  estre  party  des  Illinois  qu'au 
commencement  de  Septembre.  II  a  ete  fait  tel  qu'  etoit 
la  formal  que  Monsieur  le  general  Gage  nous  envoya  et 
qu'il  recommendait  suivre  exactement. 

Nous  y  avons  joinn  le  certiflicat  de  M"^  S'  Ange  qui  a 
longtemps  command^  en  ce  poste  au  nom  du  Roy  de 
France  legalize  par  M'  Pierre  Nasse,  commendent  en  chef 
a  S'  Louis  et  de  M'  le  Capitaine  Laird  qui  a  bien  voulue 
se  charger  du  tout  pour  le  faire  parvenir  a  Monsieur  le 
general  Gage  n'etent  pas  prevenue  que  Vostre  Excelence 
gouvernoit  en  sa  place. 

Nous  sommes  tres  persuade  que  des  affaires  ainsi  mal 
en  ordre  ne  pouroit  avoir  qu'un  tres  meauvais  succes  si 
nous  n'avions  pas  la  plus  ferme  conlience  dans  les  vertues 
de  vostre  Excelence  et  sous  la  protection  de  laquelle  nous 
nous  metons ;  et  comme  c'est  les  propres  des  grandes 
anies  de  s'interesser  pour  un  peuple  malheureux,  nous  la 
supplions  de  nous  estre  favorable  et  faire  chouze  digne 
d'elle  et  ne  cesserons  de  faire  des  veux  pour  sa  prosperite. 

J'ay  Thonneur  d'estre  avec  un  tres  profond  respect 

Monsieur 
Vostre  tres  humble  et  tres  obeissant  serviteur 
S"  Mauie 

Au  Poste  Vincennes  le  3e  May  1774. 

(Translation.) 

Monsieur — I  am  too  full  of  respect  for  all  that  bears  the 
imprint  of  authority  to  have  neglected  to  make  reply  to 
that  which  your  Excellence  informs  me  you  wrote  me  after 


r! 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


423 


the  departure  of  Monsieur  General  Gage.  This  is  the  only 
one  which  Monsieur  Maisonville  has  sent  me,  to  which  I 
reply  with  all  possible  respect. 

To  make  a  more  correct  reply  to  that  with  which  Mon- 
sieur General  Gage  honored  us,  and  to  the  proclamation 
which  he  sent  us  under  date  of  April  8,  1773,  I  was 
obliged  to  make  the  trip  to  the  Illinois  with  Mr.  Perthuit 
(Perthwaite?),  who  was  sent  to  attend  to  this  matter,  be- 
cause a  part  of  the  title-deeds  of  this  place  were  in  the 
archives  of  that  post,  another  part  carried  away  by  a 
M.  Clouvier,  former  notary,  whose  bad  conduct  obliged 
him  to  depart  secretly,  others  were  eaten  by  rats  etc. 

In  regard  to  the  verification  (of  titles)  which  your  Ex- 
cellence requires  of  us,  it  is  not  surprising  that  it  has  not 
yet  reached  you,  for  it  could  not  be  started  from  the  Illi- 
nois before  the  beginning  of  September.  It  has  been 
made  according  to  the  form  which  Monsieur  General 
Gage  sent  us,  and  which  he  recommended  us  to  follow 
exactly. 

We  have  joined  to  it  the  certificate  of  Monsieur  St. 
Ange,  who  commanded  at  this  post  for  a  long  time  in  the 
name  of  the  King  of  France,  authenticated  by  Monsieur 
Piernas,  commandant  in  chief  at  St.  Louis,  and  of  Monsieur 
Captain  Lord,  who  indeed  oflfered  to  see  that  it  reached 
Monsieur  General  Gage,  not  being  aware  that  your  Ex- 
cellence governed  in  his  place. 

We  are  indeed  convinced  that  affairs  in  such  bad  order 
could  not  have  other  than  very  poor  success,  if  we  did  not 
have  the  greatest  confidence  in  the  virtues  of  your  Excel- 
lence, and  under  the  protection  of  whom  we  put  ourselves  ; 
and  as  it  is  the  characteristic  of  great  souls  to  interest 
themselves  for  an  unfortunate  people,  we  supplicate  you  to 
be  favorable  to  us,  and  to  do  as  is  worthy  of  you,  and  we 
will  never  cease  to  oflTer  prayers  for  your  prosperity. 


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FREXCH  SETTLEMENTS 


I  have  the  honor  to  be,   with  very  profound  respect, 
Monsieur, 

Your  very  humble  and  very  obedient  servant 

Ste.  Marie. 
Post  Vincennes,  May  3,  1774. 


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428  FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 

CERTIFICATE  OF  THE  NOTARY  PHILLIBERT. 

Je,  Etienne  Phillibert,  sous  mon  propre  sermetit  siir  les 
S'*"  Ev;in(^iles  Certifie  a  tons  qu'il  appartiendra,  que  plus- 
ieurs  habitants  du  poste  Vincenne,  Lorsque  je  faisois  la 
fotictlon  de  Notaire  au  dit  Poste,  avant  1'  eva.sion  de  feu 
Baumer  notaire  apres  moi,  lui  avoir  remis  plusieurs  con- 
tracts de  concession  appertenans  aux  habitants,  et  que 
r  evasion  du  dit  S'  Baumer,  ainsi  que  le  Transport  du 
Grelle  de  ce  poste  en  celui  des  Illinois,  ont  fait  perdre 
quantite  de  papiers  de  Concessions,  ainsi  que  des  Contracts 
de  Vente,  en  1'  annee  mil  sept  cent  soizante  et  un,  qui  fut 
ce  transport  de  dits  papiers  ainsi  que  1'  evasion  du  dit 
Notaire.  En  foy  de  quoi  j'ai  signe  le  present  au  dit  poste 
Vincesne  Le  12'*  Aout  1773. 

Signe  a  L'original, 

J.  E.  Phikliukkt, 

Notaire.  Roy  ale. 
(Translation.) 

I,  Etienne  Phillibert,  under  my  solemn  oath  on  the  Holy 
Gospels,  certify  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  many 
citizens  of  Post  Vincennes,  when  I  was  performing  the 
function  of  Notary  at  the  said  Post,  bel'ore  the  llight  of  the 
late  Baumer  notary  after  me,  delivered  to  him  many  con- 
tracts of  concession  belonging  to  the  citizens,  and  that  tlie 
flight  of  said  Mr.  Baumer,  and  also  the  removal  of  the 
record  odiceofthis  Post  to  that  of  the  Illinois,  hive  caused 
to  be  lost  a  number  of  pjipers  of  concession,  as  well  as  con- 
tracts of  sale,  in  the  > ear  seventeen  hundred  and  sixty-one, 
when  this  removal  of  said  papers  as  also  llie  iliglit  of  said 
notary  occurred.  In  testimony  of  which  1  iiave  signed 
these  presents  ul  the  said  Post  Vincennes,  the  12th  of 
August,  1773.  Signed  in  original, 

J.    E.    PillLLIUKUT, 

Royal  Notary. 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


CERTIFICATE  OF  LOUIS  ST.  ANGE. 


429 


Nous  Louis  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive  ci  devant  Capitaine 
d' Infanterie,  employe  du  service  de  SaMajestee  Ties 
Cliretienne,  actuellement  Capitaine  reforme  au  service  de 
Sa  Majesle  Catholique  :  'Jertilions  a  tons  ce  qu'il  appar- 
tiendra  a  avoir  commande  le  Poste  Vincesnes  au  nom  de 
sa  dite  Majeste  Tres  Cliretienne,  avec  une  Garrison  de 
Troupe  Reglies,  depuis  I'annee  mil  sept  cent  trente  six 
jusqu'en  I'annee  mil  sept  cent  soizaule  quatre  et  que  ma 
premiere  commission  pour  commander  dans  le  dit  poste  a 
ete  de  sa  Majeste  Tres  Ch.relienne,  sous  le  gouvernement 
de  M.  de  Bienville,  Gouverneur  General  de  la  Louisiane 
en  la  dite  annee  mil  sept  cent  trente  six,  qu'ensuite  j'ai  ete 
continue  sous  les  gouvernements  de  Mess'"  de  Vaudreuille 
el  (le  Kerlerec  et  Dabadie  succv  ssi-urs  les  uns  des  autres 
au  dit  gouvernement ;  jusqu'en  la  dite  annce  mil  sept  cent 
soizante  quatre  ;  que  pendant  le  dit  Temps  j'ai  concede  a 
piusieurs  habitants  diverses  Trrres  et  Terrains  par  ordre 
(le  mes  dits  S"  les  Gouverneurs,  au  nom  de  sa  Majeste 
Tri'S  Chri'tii'nno  ;  que  de  plus  le  dit  Poste  etoil  etabli 
nombre  d'annt-es  auparavant  mon  commandment,  sous 
celui  de  M.  de  Vincesne  Ollicier  des  Troupes,  lequel  j'ai 
relev6  par  ordre  du  roi  ;  que  Ton  doit  ajouter  foi  aux  con- 
cessions que  j'ai  delivrees  et  signees  aux  dits  habitants, 
(ju'en  outre  j'ai  permis  verballemcnt  a  nombre  de  particu- 
liers,  de  s'etablir  et  d'y  cultiver  des  Tones  dont  ils  soiitrn 
possession  dejiuis  piusieurs. aiinees.  En  foi  de  quoi  avons 
signe  ces  presents  pour  servir  et  valoir  aux  habitants  du 
Posle\'^incesnes  a  (]ue  de  raison.  Et  a  quelles  fait  apposer 
le  cachet  de  nos  amies  aux  Illinois  sur  la  parHe  de  Sa  Ma- 
jeste Catholique  le  Trente  Aout  mil  sept  cent  soizantc  et 
treize.  Signe  ii  rorigin;il, 

S'  Anoe 


W  I 


111 ' 


M    1 J 


'f 


\ 


1) 


i 

!: 


i   I 


430 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


(Translation.) 

I,  Louis  St.  Ange  de  Bellerive  former  captain  of  in- 
fantry employed  in  the  service  of  His  Most  Christian  Ma- 
jesty, at  present  invalided  captain  of  the  service  of  His 
Catholic  Majesty,  certify  to  all  whom  it  may  concern  that 
I  commanded  at  Post  Vincennes  in  the  name  of  Mis  Most 
Christian  Majesty,  with  a  garrison  of  regular  troops,  from 
the  vear  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-six  uiilil 
in  tlie  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty  four, 
and  that  my  first  commission  as  commandant  of  the  said 
post  was  from  His  Most  Christian  Majesty  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  M.  de  Bienville,  Governor  General  of  Louisi- 
ana in  the  said  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  aiul 
thirlv  six  ;  that  thereafter  I  was  continued  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  Messieurs  de  Vaudreville,  de  Kerlerec,  and 
D'Abadie,  successors  one  to  another  in  the  said  govern- 
ment until  in  tlie  year  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
sixtv-four;  that  during  the  said  time  I  have  conceded  to 
maiiv  inhabitants  divers  lands  and  pieces  of  ground  bv  or- 
der of  my  said  Srs.  the  Governors,  in  the  name  of  His 
Most  Clirislian  Majesty  ;  that  further,  the  Siiid  post  was 
established  a  number  of  years  before  my  command  under 
that  of  M.  de  VinctMines,  olhcer  '  ."  tlie  troops,  whom  I 
succeeded  by  order  of  the  king  ;  that  faith  should  be  givt'ii 
to  tlie  concessions  which  I  have  signed  and  delivered  to 
llie  said  inhabitants  ;  that  in  addition  to  this  I  have  vrr- 
liallv  permitted  a  numb.'r  of  individuals  to  establish  tlu'in- 
selves  and  cultivate  the  lands  of  which  they  have  been  in 
possession  for  many  years.  In  testimony  of  which  I  Iimvc 
signed  these  presents  to  secure  and  establish  the  rights  ol' 
tlie  inhabitants  of  Post  Vincennes,  and  to  which  I  liavt- 
causeil  to  be  attached  the  seal  of  our  arms  at  the  Illinois 
on  the  part  of  His  Catholic  Majesty,  the  thirtieth  ol 
August,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  si'venty  tlirei'. 

Signed  in  original, 

St.  Anok. 


ON  THE  WABA.SH.  431 

AUTHENTICATION  OF  DON  PEDRO  PIERNAS. 
L.  O.  S. 

Nous  Don  Pedro  Piernas  Capitaine  d'  Infanterie  Lieu- 
tenant Gouverneur  des  Etablissements  des  Illinois  et  leur 
dependances  appartenans  a  Sa  Majeste  Catholique,  cer- 
tifions  a  tous  qu'il  appartiendra  que  Mens.  De  St  Ange  est 
Capitaine  retbrme  et  employe  au  service  de  Sa  Majeste 
Catholique,  que  c'est  sa  veritable  signature,  qu'il  aposee 
devant  nous  au  has  du  certificat  ci-dessus  et  que  foi  doit  y 
elre  ajoutee.  En  consequence  avons  signe  le  present,  et 
apose  le  sceau  de  nos  armes  a  St  Louis  aux  Illinois,  le 
trente  Aout  mil  sept  cent  soizante  et  treize. 

Signe  a  1'  original, 

L.  O.  S.  Peuro  Piernas. 

[sEAi>.]  (Translation.) 

I,  Don  Pedro  Piernas,  Captain  of  Infantry,  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  the  settlements  of  the  Illinois  and  their  de- 
pendencies, belonging  to  His  Catholic  Majosty,  certify  to 
all  whom  it  may  concern  that  IVIonsiour  de  »Sl  Ange  is  an 
invalided  cajilain  and  employed  in  the  service  of  His  Cath- 
olic Majesty  ;  that  this  is  his  genuine  signature  which  lie 
affixed  before  n  »  at  the  bottom  of  the  above  certificate  ; 
and  that  credit  should  be  given  to  it.  In  testimony  of 
which  1  have  signed  these  presents,  and  attached  tlie  seal 
of  mv  arms  at  St.  Louis  in  the  Illinois  country,  the  thirtietli 
of  August,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy  three. 

Signed  in  original, 

[seal.]  Pi'Duo  Piernas. 

GENERAL  HALDIMANl)  TO  GENERAL  GAGE. 

N.  York,  le  5  Jan.  1774. 
MoN. — Je  viens  enfin  de  recevoir  une  lettre  de  Cap' 
Lord  des  Illinois  date  du  3e  Sep'"  m'envoyer  le  recense- 


1  J   ■ 


<'!/ 


i'»ii(V 


u 


432 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


\\h  -'i 


*;;■. 


ment  (ou  plutot  les  noms)  de  88  habitans  qui  sont  etabli  au 
Post  Vincene.  Cette  piece  est  accompagne  d'un  certificat 
de  M.  St  Ange  qui  y  a  commande  pendant  plusieurs 
annees,  et  qui  dit  avoir  fete  authorisee  par  les  differents 
(jouv'  de  la  Louisianne,  de  conceder  des  Terrains  dans 
les  endroits  la.  Mais  la  plupart  de  ces  titres  sont  perdu, 
soit  par  accident  ou  par  la  mauvaise  conduite  d'un  notaire 
de  I'endroit,  de  sorte  qu'il  y  a  plusieurs  de  ces  habitans  qui 
n'ont  d'autre  titres  que  celui  de  possession,  et  comme  il  serait 
tresdifiicile  He  leur  disputer,  le  meilleur  serait  peutetre  de 
leslaissertranquille,  maisde  leur  donnerquelqu'un  pour  les 
conduire.  Q^ioique  lamalle  doit  se  fermer  ce  soir  je  tacherai 
d'  envoyer  les  pieces  au  compte  de  Dartmouth,  me  persua- 
d-int  que  vous  vous  prenderez  quelqu'  arrangement  pour 
les  Illinois  pendant  cet  hiver.  Le  Cap""  Lord  me  manque 
que  deux  habitans  Francais  ont  (a  I'example  de  Mons,  Mur- 
ray) achete  toute  le  terrain  appurtenant  a  une  des  tribus  des 
Illinois,  qui  etait  autrefois  tres  nombreuses  et  qui  se  trouve 
reduile  aujourd'hui  a  douze  Guerriers.  J'ai  toute  lieu  de 
crois  que  les  deux  Francais  ne  sont  que  les  Agents  de  la 
meme  compagnie  qui  achete  la  premier  terrain,  et  il  est 
facile  de  prevoir  qu'il  y  aura  dans  peu  beaucoup  de  desordre 
dans  ces  cotes  la,  si  on  n'y  porta  une  prompte  reniede, 
habitans  s'etahli  augmente  et  a  que  jours  la  fureur. 

Je  profitais  de  I'occasion  du  L'  Ellis  qui  p.artit  Dimanche 
dernier  pour  vous  savoir  la  mort  de  Commissaire  Lake, 
enlin  que  si  vous  avez  dessein  de  servir  quelques  une  de 
vos  amis  vous  puissiez  le  faire.  J'antionce  cet  vacance  au 
Secretaire  de  la  Guerre  par  ce  pacquet  et  en  attendant 
que  la  volonte  du  Roi  soit  connu  j'ai  nomme  le  Cap" 
Hutchinson  pour  faire  la  fonction  de  Mons.  Lake  avec 
ordre  de  continuer  tout  h's  personnes  employe  dans  cette 
affaire,  ailn  que  les  choses  continent  dans  I'ordre  ou  elles 
ont  ele  j'usqua  present. 

Dans  le  retour  de  I'etat  Maj.  outre  mon  Aide  de  Camp, 


lb 


ON  THE  WABASH. 


433 


etabli  au 
certificat 
3lusieurs 
ifferents 
ns  dans 
t  perdu, 
1  notaire 
tans  qui 
nl  serait 
itetre  de 
pour les 
tacherai 
!  persua- 
int  pour 
manque 
ns,  Mur- 
•ibus  des 
Be  trouvc 
lieu  de 
ts  de  la 
et  il  est 
:lesordre 
rem  ode, 

imanclie 
e  Lake. 
5  une  de 
ance  au 
ttendant 
le  Cap- 
ke  nvec 
ns  cette 
ou  el  les 

:  Camp, 


J...r. 


j'en  ai  nomme  un  autre  faisant  fonction  en  Amerique  et 
quo  je  payerai  par  un  warrant. 

Depuis  les  nouvelles  que  vous  aurez  recues  par  le  Cup^ 
Cowper  il  ne  s'est  rien  passe  d'extraordinaire  et  je  compte 
que  le  vaisseau  qui  apporte  le  The  n'  occasionera  pas  des 
(losordre,  on  parait  bien  determiner  a  le  faire  reporter  sans 
!)rLiit. 

Lady  Dunmore  arriva  liier  avec  une  legion  d'  enfants. 
Elle  aura  de  la  peine  a  continuer  son  voyage  le  temps 
etant  trev  mauvais.     Mes  compliments  a  Madame  &c. 

J'ai  r  h. 

Je  vous  prie  Mon.  d'  assurer  My  Lord  Gage  de  mes  re- 
spects, et  de  lui  dire  que  j'ai  tail  parvenu  dans  son  temps 
les  lettres  pour  Mons  Campbell  qui  avait  mis  sous  mon 
convert,  Jevous  telicite  d'  avoir  pu  servirMons.  Kemble. 
On  me  dit  que  sa  commission  de  •'  naval  officer"  est  ar- 

rivee. 

(Translation.) 

Nicw  York,  Jan.  5,  1774. 
Monsieur — I  have  at  lengtli  received  a  letter  from 
Captain  Lord,  of  the  Illinois,  dated  September  3d,  trans- 
mitting to  me  the  verification  (or  ratlier  the  names)  of  88 
citiicens  who  are  established  at  Post  V^incennes.  This 
document  is  accompanied  bv  a  corliticate  of  M.  St.  Ange, 
who  commanded  there  for  many  \  ears,  and  who  says  he 
had  been  authorized  bv  the  different  j^overnors  of  Louisi- 
ana  to  concede  lands  in  that  locality.  Hut  llie  most  of 
these  title-deeds  are  lost,  either  by  accident  or  by  the  bad 
conduct  of  a  notarv  of  the  place,  so  tliat  there  are  many 
of  these  ciiiziMis  who  have  no  other  title  tiian  that  of  pos- 
session, and  as  it  will  be  very  ditlicult  to  controvert  them, 
it  will  probably  be  better  to  let  llicin  remain,  but  to  send 
some  one  to  govern  tlieni.  Although  the  mail  ouglU  to 
close  this  evening,  I  will  endeavor  to  forward  the  docu- 
ments to  Lf)rd  Dartmouth,  believing  that  you  will  adopt 
some  arrangement  lor  tlie  Illinois  iluring  this  winter.    Cap- 


it   I 


r'5 


fi 


434 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


i 


tain  Lord  informs  me  that  two  French  citizens  have  (after 
the  manner  of  Mr.  Murra}')  bought  all  the  land  belonging 
to  one  of  the  tribes  of  the  Illinois,  who  were  formerly  very 
numerous  and  who  are  now  reduced  to  a  dozen  warriors. 
I  liave  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  two  Fren^'imen  are 
nothing  but  agents  of  the  same  company  which  bought  the 
first  land,  and  it  is  easy  to  foresee  that  there  will  be  in  a 
little  while  much  disorder  in  those  parts  if  a  remedy  is  not 
promptly  provided  ;  the  settlers  will  establish  themselves, 
increase,  and  some  day  there  will  be  trouble. 

I  availed  myself  of  the  opportunity  to  write  you  by  Lt. 
Ellis,  who  left  last  Sunday,  to  let  you  know  of  the  death 
of  Commissary  Lake,  in  order  that  if  you  desired  to  serve 
some  of  your  friends  you  might  be  able  to  do  so.  I  an- 
nounce this  vacancy  to  the  Secretary  of  War  by  this  mail, 
and  until  the  pleasure  of  the  King  shall  be  known  I  have 
appointed  Captain  Hutchinson  to  perform  the  duties  of  Mr. 
Lake,  with  orders  to  continue  all  the  persons  employed  in 
this  business,  in  order  that  affairs  may  keep  in  the  same 
situation  that  they  have  been  to  the  present. 

In  tlie  return  of  the  stafl'in  addition  to  my  aide-de-camp, 
1  have  appointed  another  for  duty  in  America,  and  whom 
I  will  pay  by  a  warrant. 

Since  the  news  that  you  received  by  Captain  Cowper 
nothing  extraordinary  has  occurred,  and  I  think  that  the 
vessel  which  brings  the  tea  will  not  occasion  disorder,  in- 
deed they  appear  to  have  decided  to  take  it  back  quietly. 

Lady  Dunmore  arrived  yesterday  with  a  legion  of  chil- 
dren. She  will  have  trouble  in  continuing  her  journey, 
the  weather  being  very  bad.     My  compliments  to  Madame, 

etc. 

I  have  the  honor — 

T  beg  you  to  present  My  Lord  Gage  my  respects  and  to 
say  to  him  that  I  have  delivered  in  good  time  the  letters 
to  Mr.  Campbell  which  he  sent  in  my  care.  I  congratulate 
you  on  having  been  able  to  serve  Mr.  Kemble.      I  hear 

tli:il  liis  I'otniiiission  as  "naval  oflicor  "  lias  arrived. 


! 


ox  THE  WAJIASII. 


435 


ili.f 


B  27.  p.  2i)^. 

THE  ROAD  FROM  DETROIT  TO  THE  ILLINOIS 

By  way  of  the  Forts  Mianiie,  Ouiattanon  and 
St.  Vincent  with  some  remarks.^ 


I 

miles!  MILI'.S 


From  Detroit  to  Lake  Krie 

To  tlie  Itivcr  M  iainie^ 

To  the  Foot  of  tlie  Kapids 

To  tlie  Top  of  tlie  Capitis 

N.  I{.  Part  of  tlie  Ottawa  &  a  few  of  the  Ilurons  inhaliit 
this  part  of  tiie  iiiver.  In  liie  forme-  when  the  water 
is  low,  Canoes  cannot  pass  tlie  Rapiiis,  otiierwise  tiian 
hy  heiii^'  draijired  over  tiie  stones  I'v;  lVrc[uentlv  the  'J"ra- 
ders  are  ohiii^ed  to  carry  tlieir  yoods  tlie  whole  eighteen 
miles. 

To  the  end  of  the  still  water 

'J'o  tlie  Top  of  the  next  Rapids 

To  the  (irand  (jhi/e.'  a  river  so  called  on  the  left  going  up. 
N.  IJ.     A  few  Ottawas  live  here. 

To  the  little  Gla/e  on  the  right 

'J'o  the  Kings  CJla/.e  on  the  right  (a  few  Ottawas  live  here).  . 

To  the  Flin  Meadow 

To  Sledge  Id  (so  called  I'roni  a  large  stone  resemhiing  a 
sledge) ' 

To  the  Split  rock  

To  the  Wolf  Rajiid 

To  the  great  Heiul.* 

To  Fort  Miamic.* 


18 

18 
18 


^4 
9 
f) 

?, 

1  2 

'.s 
12 

6 
J  -> 

\i 


N.  n.  The  Miami  Nation  live  opjiosite  the  Fort  and  consist  of  ahoiit 
i;o  Men  ahle  to  hear  arms — The  Fort  is  inhuhited  by  Eight  or  Ten 
French  Families, 


iThl.s  Ithiernry  l.s  not  ilatod,  Imt  Is  deposited  wltli  papers  of  the  your  1774, 
anil  was  protiMt)1y  prcpaicii  tn  that  year. 

2|{lver  Mianile— tlie  Maiimec. 

■uiraiid  tilaze— tile  Aunlal/e  river;  site  of  I)(>flanep,  Ohio. 

4'1'lic  (ireat  llend-ln  Maimiee  townslilp,  Allen  county,  Ind.  Tlip  rlvor  Is 
very  whullnn  for  a  inmilpcr  of  miles  cast  of  this  iilaco,  so  that  the  distances 
Klvcn  appear  larue  when  comimred  with  a  illruct  lino, 

.''Fort  iMIumlo— The  IJrltlsli  ustubllslimeiit. 


<  ,;' 


(     I 


(i 


111'. 


7 


436 


FRENCH  SE TTLEMEXTS 


J 


Broui^ht  over 

From  Fort  Miamieto  Cold  Feet'  where  the  old  Frcncii  Fort 

was 


The  carrying  place  to  the  little  River 

To  the  River  i  lioite 

To  the  Flats 

To  the  little  Rock' 

To  the  Ouabache' 

N.  B.  Between  the  Miainie  &  the  Onahache  there  are 
Beaver  Dams  which  when  water  is  low  Passeni^ers 
break  down  to  raise  it,  ds;  by  that  means  pass  easier  than 
they  otherwise  would,  when  they  are  s^one  the  Beaver 
come  and  mend  the  Breacii,  tor  tiiis  -eason  they  have 
been  hitlierto  sacred  as  neither  Indians  or  White  people 
hunt  them. 

To  the  River  Sallaminee*  on  left  icoinjr  down 

N.  B.     This  iiiver  is  navigable  for  canoes  i  ^o  miles. 

To  the  Pipe  River  on  the   left    " 

To  the  Great   Rapiil 

To  the  Fel  River  on  the  right* 

To  the  Little  Rock* 

To  the  Island  of  CJarlic' 

To  Richards  Coal  Mine"  on  the  right  close  to  the  river.  .  .  . 

■  iht 


.MII.KS 


To  the  River  Tripi'ccans''  on  the 

To  Ouiatlanon  Fort'" 

This  I'ort  is  on  the  right  about  70  yards  trom  the  River, 
the  Ouattanon  Nation  of  Iiulians  is  on  the  opposite 
side,  iS:  the  Kiccajiosses  are  round  the  Fort,  in  both  vil- 
lages about  1000  men  able  to  bear  arms. 


i.S 

18 
.3 
3 
9 

i.S 
9 
9 

18 


MILF.S 


216 


183 


399 


iCold  Foot— 1.  o.,tti('  Inillan  village  of  Coldfoot'.s  banil.  Coldfoot  (I'Icd 
Frold)  was  a  pronilnont  Miami  eliiof  of  tlic  niliidU'  of  tliu  lust  century.  Vlile 
Dunn's  Iiiilluna,  pp.  im,  iK!. 

'Little  Kock  river— now  known  as  l!uH  er(>ek. 

•  Tlic  Waljasli-nioutli  of  l.lttic  iMver,  site  of  Huntington,  Ind. 
*Tlie  Salomlnci-— site  of  I.a  (Jim. 

f'l'j'l  I'lvpr— site  of  I.oifaiisi'oi  t . 

«Mttli!  Itoek  river— So  niaikiil  on  ancient  maps,  rrobably  Crooked  Creek, 
Cass  eount.v. 

'Island  of  tiarlle—l'rol)nbly  an  Island  near  Loekport.  Tlie  distances  from 
Eel  river  to  tlie  Tlppoeanoe  an-  too  irreat  for  aeeuniti'  decision. 

•  At  lUeluirds  river,  on  old  maps— Probably  a  small  stream  tluit  eiiiptli>.s 
(jpposlte  lii'lpld,  or  one  two  miles  abv)ve. 

»Tlie  'I'lppecanoe. 

i'Pi)st  oulatanon— After  careful  study  of  authorities  and  maps  I  loeatod 
tills  fort  '  on  tlio  nortb  liank  r>f  the  Wabash,"  "a  short  dlstaneo  aiiove  In- 
dian creek,  whl  h  the  I'reneh  called  l{lvli~>ro  de  UolsroUKe."  About  llvo 
months  after  my  "Indiana"  was  published.  In  Fel)ruary  Isv.i,  some  workmen 
who  were  tuklng  Ki'uvul  trum  u  bauk  near  the  I'lvur.ubout  four  miles  above 


O.V  THE  W ABASH. 


437 


BroiiLjlit  over 
From   Fort   Ouiattanon   Down  the  Ouabaclie  to  the  river 

Verniillioii    

N.  n.     This  River  is;  on  the  i'i;riit  &  at  some  seasons  is 
navigable  ("or  l)()ats  about   120  miles.     A  mile  up  it  is  a 

Villai;e  of  Piankshaws  of  upwards  of  1:^0  Men 

To  the  liiifiilands'  or  old  Boundary  between  Canada  and 
Louisiana 


To  Fort  St.  Vincent 

To    the    Illinois    by    Land,    the    road 
Plains  and  Extensive  Meadows 


is    chieflv    through 


From  Detroit  to  the  Illinois 

N.  n.     The  above  distances  arc  all  computed. 

The  Road   from  Detroit  to  Fort  St.  Josephs  by  land  <t   from 

thence  to  the  junction  of  the  Illinois  River  with  tiie  Mis- 

sissip|ii  l)v  water. 

From  Detroit  to  the  Rivei-^  Huron  or  Haudewine  Sippv.  .  . 

N.  H.     There  is  a  VillaLjc  of  Puttawatlamoes  of  six  biiie 

Cabans — The  River  at  this  place  is  aliout  I''iftv  feet\iide 

&  the  water  is  <;enerally  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  feet 

deep,  when   there  are   Floods  Travellers  are  obliij;ed  to 

make  rafts  to  cross  it — The  road  to  this  place  bad. 

To  the  Salt  Fiiver'  or  Wandayon  Sippi 

N.  H.     There  is  another  XMllatje  of  Pittawattamces  of  five 
Cabans — This  river  is  never  so  hii;h  as  to  prt'vent  peo- 
ple pas^in^  it. 
To  one  of  the  Hranches  of  Grand  River*  or  Washtanon  that 

falls  into  Lake  M  ichi^an 

'I'here  is  another  Village  of  Pittawattamces  of  ei-^ht  lar^e 
Cabans. 


MILHsMlI.F.S 


r.o 


120 


40 


.i99 


240 
240 


S79 


Indian  crock,  found  tlie  remains  of  n  Krench  officer,  as  appeared  from  parts 
of  tlie  uniform  still  existing.  From  this  aiul  other  remains,  silver  crucltlxes, 
utensils  of  various  kinds,  etc. ,  many  of  which  are  now  preserved  at  I'urdue 
Ifnlverslty,  the  site  of  the  fort  was  Identltled.  (Lafayette  Call,  IVh.  r.'  and 
Kel).  r.i,  iss'.i.)  'I'lic  location  was  afterwards  co?illnncil  hy  Mrs.  licrllla  smith, 
an  x\tioi\  lady,  who  came  to  that  ri'^'lon  In  ls:il ,  and  liad  the  site  of  the  old  fort 
pointed  out  to  her  by  earllei'  settlers.  (I.al'ayntle  call,  .March  II,  isil'i.)  It  Is 
nearly  opposite— sllt,'IUly  below— the  mo\ith  of  Wea  creek,  near  Sand  ltldt?e 
church. 

I'l'he  lIlKhlaii'Is— n  translation  of  the  French  name  terre  haute,  which  at- 
tttcheil  to  the  locality  loni;  before  the  city  of  'I'ei're  Haute  was  thought  of. 

2\ear  the  site  of  Ann  Arlnu'. 

^•Saline  creek— the  trail  bore  to  the  \avt\\  from  this  point,  either  Iw  avoid 
tlio  tanuirack  swamps  of  Southern  MIcUlKan,  orto  reach  theother  I'ottawatta- 
nile  vlllnKcs. 

•lAt  Katon  lUiplds— from  this  point  the  road  was  In  a  very  direct  line  to 
Fort  St.  Joseph.    (Mlcldt;an  IMoneer  (;()lloctlons.  Vol.  :<,  p,  :tSO.) 


I     I 


438 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENTS 


'A  lu 


k 


Mir.l'.S  MILES 


Broiiulit  over 
To  Rccc;main:iz()   River,  or  Pusawpaw  Sippv  olhcrv,  ise  llu' 

Iron  .Mine  river' 

N.  \^.  There  is  anotlicr  viiiane  of  Pittawatainecs  ol' ei<j;lit 
larj^e  Cabans,  this  river  cannot  he  passed  in  I' resiles  on 
Rafts,  at   other  time  l  or  2  feet  deep  I 

To  tiie  Prarie   roncie''' | 

N.  15.  Tliere  is  a  small  Lake  of  about  '*,]  mile  wi'ie  anclj 
1 1  miles  Ion;,',  aboundinu  with  several  sorts  of  Fish,  such! 
as  Maskenonj^i,  White   I'ish   &c 

To  Fort  St  Josephs'   | 

N.  H.  There  is  a  few  Pittawattamces  near  the  i''ort  the 
road  after  you  pass  the  River  Huron  is  very  ijooil  being 
mostly  on  a  small  height  of  land  iV  little  wood  till  \o\.\ 
come  to  St  Josejib's  where  yon  pass  thro'  abuul  a  mile 
loni;  and  another  about  six  miles  lon^. 
From  Fort  St  Josephe's  you  ascend  that  River  to  a  earryinij 

place* ..... 

From  carrying  place  to  Recankeekec  river 

To  the  junction  of  tlr  .  "iver  with  the  Iroiinni-^  River j 

N.  13.     In  this  Fort  . .  .1  villai;e  of  i-i  l.irne  L'a!)ans  of  Mas- 
contains.  I 
To   the  junction   of  this   river    with   the   Cbii'auLjou''  river! 

which  forms  the   Illinois   river ] 

N.  n.  At  the  I''ort  there  is  a  Vilhiije  of  Pultawattamees 
of  12  large  Cabans 

To  the  Rocks  or  old  French  Fort  called   Pumetewes' 

To  the  Mississippi 


1 12 


75 


.^o 


From  Detroit  to  the  Mississip[)i  by  way  of  the  Illinois  River, 


4 
i>o 


■1'; 


<)0 

J  40 


292 


.';4' 


JThe  Kalamazoo— near  Battle  rreek. 

2 Prairie  Uonile— In  the  soutliwest  corner  of  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan. 
The  township  still  bear.s  tlie  name. 
3Near  NMles,  Michigan. 
4Slte  of  South  Hona,  Indiana. 
5Tho  DCS  I'lalnes. 
«Plmetoul. 


ON  THE  WABASH. 

THE  FIRST  CENSUS  OF  INDIANA.* 


439 


List  of  the  Inhabitants  at  Fort  St.  Vincents  on  the  Oua- 
bache  as  they  were  in  1769,  since  vvhicii  they  have  in- 
creased rather  than  diminislied. 


Mr.   Nicholas 

r>ouicier 

Di-  Loiier 

Juan  Milliioiiime 

Mrs.  Mall^ 

"Michelle  Depu 

Antoliie  Marci 

Leuar 

Dubois 

DutriMiible 

Noiivcaii 

Millet  Cardinal 

St.  Aubin 

C',11  dinal 

Mrs  Ricliarvilic 

Josc]iIi  Deroin 

Antoint'  La  Framboise 

Pierre  Mi  ret 

J:i(iuo  Siiinailte 

niichesne 

Pit-rrc  Ld'cvrc 

Bailoiip 

Charlo  ilarbonnaux 

Languedoc 

Pierre  Cornville 

Chapeaux 

Francois  Ciodere 

\':iiulrille 

I'ranvois  Uarois 

Pierre  Peruii 

Jean  [azon 

Lagarouclie  Godere 

■  Borciclot 

Mallet 

IVleterec 

Josephe  Chapot 

Provencalle 

Joscphc  Me^  ige 

Joseph  Sal)otle 

Sanseiias^rin 

Laiiivlf)'!* 

St.  Louis  dit-p 

uechon 

De  Comte 

La  iulliatle 

Valcuiir 

Clairni;in 

Dcnoiyon 

l)e  Liijne 

Malic  ills 

(iriinar 

Antoinc  Poradort 

Alexis  Delaronte 

Orlan.s 

Maifniticpie  Desne. 

St.  Marie 

Jean  Laj^arde 

Lajraissic 

Saiispeur 

Briiiictt 

I'aullon 

Desnott 

Cliarle  Saehisne 

Piinat 

St.  Martin 

Arpain 

Rapicaut 

N.  B.  Nicholas  is  the  most  substantial  Inhabitant  and 
has  been  emplo3'ed  as  Justice  of  tlie  Peace  there,  by  some 
authority  from  the  commanding  officer  at  the  Illinois. 

When  this  list  was  taken  there  were  fifty  women  and 
One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Children  belonging  to  the  Inhab- 
itants, and  Fifty  Men  able  to  be;ir  arms  including  Servants 

♦Filed  with  the  papers  of  1774  and  probably  of  that  dale. 


nvr'.-*Kf^''V-'?wTr»p-'''"" ' 


fl 


i 


;    PI 


i  1  '■       I 


3 


m  k\t 


am 


440 


FliE^'c^  si:ttlemj:xj,s 


Names  of  Inliahit 

lilts  at  Fort 

Names  of  tlie  Iiihi'.bitants  at  Tort 

Ouialluiiou. 

Miamie. 

Maisonville 

Capiuhin 

Maiy;iiian 

Baptisie  Camiiau 

PaiU^ 

Nicliolas  Perot 

Lamorceau 

Pierre  Harthr. 

J.  Cardinal 

I!eri;erson 

Lot'c'vre 

lierllielemy 

Vcriictte 

Dorien 

La  Riviere 

Fraiifois  Maisonville 

Cleiueiit 

Lauruin 

Pierre  Uertiii 

Crept) 

Aijot 

LIEUTENANT   GOVERNOR  ABBOTT,  SUPERIN- 
TENDENT, TO  SIR  GUY  CARLETON. 

Sir — I  hiive  the  honor  of  acquainting  your  Excellency 
of  my  arrival  the  iplhinst ;  the  short  time  and  trouble  with 
the  Indians  &c  has  not  permitted  my  taking  a  general 
Review  of  the  affairs  of  this  district ;  since  the  conquest  of 
Caiuida,  no  person  bearing  His  Majesty's  Commission  has 
been  to  take  possession  ;  from  this  your  Excellency  may 
easily  imagine  what  anarchy  reigns. 

1  must  do  the  inhabitants  justice  for  the  respectfull  re- 
ception I  met  witli,  and  for  their  readiness  in  obeying  tlie 
orders  I  thought  necessary  to  issue. 

The  Wabache  is  perhaps  one  of  the  thiest  rivers  in  tlie 
world,  on  its  banks  are  several  Indian  Towns,  the  most 
considerable  is  the  Ouija,  where  it  is  said  there  are  1000 
men  capable  to  bear  arms,  I  found  them  so  numerous,  and 
needy,  I  could  not  pass  without  great  expense  ;  The  prt-s- 
ents  thf)ugh  very  large,  were  in  a  manner  despised,  saying 
tlu'ir  anlient  Father  (the  frencii)  never  spoke  to  them  with- 
out a  barnfuU  of  goods;  having  no  'I'roops  and  ctidy  a 
handful!  of  french  oblii;ed  me  to  es(|uiese  in  part  of  their 
exorbitand  demands,  which  hasoccationed  a  much  gieater 
expense  than  I  could  have  imagined,  but  I  believe  it  not 


»i:/ 


(K\  THE  WABASH. 


441 


thrown  away,  as  I  left  them  seemingly  well  disposed  lor 
His  Majesty's  service. 

I  have  drawn  on  M'  Dunn  for  seven  thousand  live  hun- 
dred and  thirty  two  I*ounds  six  shillintrs  and  tenpence 
halfpenny  New  York  currency  and  request  your  Excel- 
lency will  order  payment,  I  have  likewise  took  the  Liberty 
of  drawing  on  M'  Dunn  for  6428  Livre,'}  in  favour  of  Jean 
iiaptiste  Racine  dit  S'  Marie,  who  has  acted  as  command- 
ant of  this  place  since  it  was  conceded  to  His  Majesty. 
The  fair  character  he  bears  with  the  certificate  annexed 
to  his  account  mak^js  me  think  it  just ;  I  hope  your  Excel- 
lency will  excuse  the  incorrectness  of  this  as  I  am  every 
minute  call'd  away  and  have  not  a  moment  to  myself;  I 
beg  leave  to  mention  M'  Edgar  the  bearer  of  this  who  has 
liada  gioatdeal  oftroul)le,  paid  all  theexpencesof  Govern- 
iiient  without  the  least  gratilication  and  without  wiiom  I 
could  not  have  kept  the  accounts  in  any  order  from  the 
multiplicity  of  aOairs,  1  offered  him  payment  which  he  re- 
fusal, he  catne  with  me  to  see  the  country  and  can  much 
better  inform  you  of  it  than  I  can  who  was  continually  em- 
ployed— I  slinll  send  olYin  a  few  days  towards  Fort  Pitt  to 
see  what  is  doing  tiu're  ;  I  enclose  a  note  sent  me  from 
Mons'  Roclu'hlavc  which  shews  the  Si)aiii;!rds  intention 
toward  us  and  which  ccn'responds  with  oilier  intelligence  I 
have  had.  By  the  nox  opportunity  I  hope  to  have  it  in 
mv  power  to  send  a  circumstantial  account  of  this  jtlace,  I 
must  not  neglect  mentioning  a  M'  Ramsey  who  has  been 
here  about  nine  years  ago  from  the  Illinois.  I  would  beg 
yourlCxcelleiuv  would  give  me  orders  concerning  the  land 
at  this  place  for  few  of  them  have  any  proper  grants  though 
possessed  near  thirty  years. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  respect 
your  Excellency's  most  obedient  lliim'  Serv' 
(Signed)         I^^dwakd  Aiuiorr 
Lieu'  Governor  &  Superinlendant  of  vS^  Vincennes 


i\\ 


Ml 


i  ^ 


442 


FIU'XCII  ^r/rXLEMEXTS  OS  THE   WABASH. 


As  it  is  necessary  for  a  commissary 
of  Indian  aiTairs  at  this  place  I  cou'd 
wish  your  Excellency  wou'd  approve 
of  M'  Edgar  a  person  well  qualified 
for  it. 
His  Excellency  Sir  Guy  Carleton. 

Indorsed  : — Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Lieut. 

Governor  Abbott  Superintendant 
dated  S''  Vincennes 
26'"  May  1777. 
In  Sir  Guy  Carleton's  (No.  32) 
of  1 1"'  August  1777 
(10) 


